Because Brod was originally competing with Sviggum for the CD2 slot, but then picked for the at-large seat over Hunter when she lost to party elder Sviggum, the move was perceived as anti-union and partisan.

Brod, who did not seek re-election to the House after serving the past eight years, was one of three people recommended for the second congressional district slot. Rules state that any person "recommended by the Regent Candidate Advisory Council is eligible to be interviewed by the joint committee and considered nominated for any position for which they are eligible."

The choice left Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia) saying the vote was about politics. He said a DFL-controlled Legislature elected two "known Republicans" to the Board of Regents two years ago.

"I told you two years ago what would happen if we were ever in the minority, and it did, so bipartisanship at the Board of Regents has ended," he said.

On the House floor Thursday, Rep. Joe Atkins said the rules do not allow appointing regents to any position other than the one for which they applied. Atkins called the maneuver “the most overtly political vote we have seen in 150 years of the University of Minnesota.”

Some candidates "you know better than others," he said, noting Sviggum's past as speaker of the Minnesota House. "It's pretty hard to expect your friends not to vote for you."

Photos: Laura Brod stickered and buttoned with her at-large interests for the State of Minnesota. Glenn Gruenhagen replaced her in the state legislature following her retirement (via Politics in Minnesota).